Bar segment readout light shield

ABSTRACT

A readout light shield comprising four slotted elements which may be assembled to form an eggcrate having a plurality of rectangular cells into each of which a light may be placed for illumination of a specific portion of a bar segment readout. The ratio of the lengths of the adjacent sides of the cells may be altered to adjust the angle at which a viewer sees the numerals or characters which are displayed by the readout without causing the horizontal segments to become non-horizontal.

United States Patet 1 91 Rieth 51 Apr. 24, 1973 1 BAR SEGMENT READOUT LIGHT SHIELD [75] Inventor: Harold F. Rieth, Costa Mesa, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Industrial Electronic Engineers, lino,

Van Nuys, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 24, 1970 [21] App]. No.: 66,474

[52] US. Cl. ..40/130 E, 40/132 D, 240/4639,

340/336 [51 Int. Cl ..G09f 113/06 [58] Field of Search ..340/334, 336, 324,

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 597,525 1/1898 McLane et al. ..2l7/33 2,952,079 9/ l 960 Koch 2,981,020 4/1961 Brooks ..40/13O K 2,677,046 4/1954 Dunne et al. ..240/46.39 X 151,934 6/1874 Strong ..2l7/33 3,177,483 4/1965 Scharfet al..... ...340/336 X 284,252 9/1883 Smith ..2l7/33 669,829 3/1901 Grant t ..217/33 2,678,749 5/1954 Lacy-Hulbert ..2l7/33 X Primary E.raminerR0bert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-John F. Pitrelli Att0rney-Smyth, Roston & Pavitt [57] ABSTRACT A readout light shield comprising four slotted elements which may be assembled to form an eggcrate having a plurality of rectangular cells into each of which a light may be placed for illumination of a specific portion of a bar segment readout. The ratio of the lengths of the adjacent sides of the cells may be altered to adjust the angle at which a viewer sees the numerals or characters which are displayed by the readout without causing the horizontal segments to become non-horizontal.

20 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures BAR SEGMENT READOUT LIGHT SHEELD BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A wide variety of devices have become available to visibly display alphanumeric intelligence as the output of computer and machine applications. One type of such readout, the bar segment readout, has become increasingly popular with the advent of integrated circuit-type driver/decoders which are capable of translating the four channel binary-coded-decimal output of a machine into signals which can properly operate a seven segment bar readout.

A seven segment bar readout normally comprises three spaced horizontal bars which are interconnected at their ends by four vertical bars to form a figure eight.

As these readouts have become more popular their mechanical and aesthetic designs have become refined as shown, for example, in U. S. Pat. Nos. 3,177,483 and 3,210,876.

As seen in the cited patents, aesthetic designs have been improved by tilting the four vertical bars toward the right to form an angle, relative to a true vertical line, so that numerals and characters displayed by the readout slant, from bottom to top, toward the right, as shown particularly in FIG. 1 of US. Pat. No. 3,177,483.

Since each segment of the seven segment bar readout must be individually lighted, light shields have been developed to prevent any lamp from illuminating more than one segment. As shown in the above cited patents, the prior art light shields normally comprise one or more molded plastic parts which are fastened together by suitable means in a desired final configuration. These light shields require an undesirable amount of space, preventing the miniaturization so often required by todays machine designs. The molded configuration of the shields also prevent the alteration thereof when it is desired to change the segment configuration, etc. Thus, for example, if a readout user desires to alter the shape of the segments from linear to curved, he usually must replace the entire readout rather than just one element thereof. This results in duplicate stockpiling, higher cost, etc.

Further, the presently available light shields are relatively expensive to manufacture and replace and once a specific angle has been selected for the tilt of the four vertical bar segments, that angle cannot be changed without replacing the entire readout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improved light shield for use with a seven segment bar readout. More specifically, the invention relates to an eggcrate-type light shield which utilizes a minimum amount of space within the readout and is relatively inexpensive to fabricate' In the preferred embodiment of the invention, an eggcrate light shield may be formed by providing a plurality of sheet metal sections, each having a number of fingers separated by slots so that when the slots are mated, the fingers on each section are interlocked with the fingers on the other sections, forming openings or cells between them.

If the vertical segments of the readout are to be truly vertical, the slots formed in the segments must be positioned so that each cell is square. However, if the vertical sections are to be tilted, the cells must form rectangles, with the longer sides thereof extending in the direction of the tilt. Otherwise, the three horizontal segments will no longer be truly horizontal or else the horizontal and vertical segments will become separated, both of which results are aesthetically displeasing. Consequently, the angle of the tilt of the character displayed by the unit will determine the positions at which slots are to be formed in each of the segments. As the angle becomes greater, in order to maintain the horizontal segments in true horizontal, the sides of the cells extending in the direction of the tilt must become longer relative to the sides extending perpendicular to the direction of tilt, i.e., their ratio must increase.

Therefore, the present invention basically comprises an eggcrate light shield which is manufactured from four thin strips of material which are bent and slotted at predetermined positions in accordance with a selected angle of character display tilt. It may be used with bar segment masks which may, for example, be formed from film negatives or other substances having opaque and transparent sections and such masks and light shields may be spaced very closely together and quickly and easily replaced. in fact, two such shields may be placed into abutting relationship so that they form additional cells between them to allow enlarged symbols or other indicia such as plus and minus signs, commas, etc., to be displayed by the readout.

This structure also produces significant advantages in that the miniaturization of a readout using the present invention is limited, in practicality, only by the size of the bulb which the designer selects for illumination of the bar segments since the cells in the shield must be large enough to receive the lamps which are inserted therein. Since the shield is formed from sheet metal sections, the structure of the shield itself is relatively small because the sheet metal used may be as thin as desired. It will also be recognized that the fabrication of a light shield formed from sheet metal will be less expensive than those formed according to the prior art designs.

Other objects, advantages, modes, and embodiments of the present invention will become understood by those skilled in the art by perusal of the Detailed Description and accompanying drawing, which illustrate what is presently considered to be a preferred embodiment of the best mode contemplated for utilizing the novel principles of the invention as defined in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a portion of a readout utilizing a light shield formed in accordance with the present invention, as viewed from the inside of the readout, i.e., the opposite side of the viewing screen from that which the viewer sees when reading the readout;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to H6. 1 showing the sides of the cells to form rectangular cells in the light shield to illustrate how the angle of the displayed character can be altered without increasing the total space required by the readout, moving the horizontal segments out of horizontal, or causing a separation between the horizontal segments and the adjacent segments; and

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the light shield formed in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown the rear side of a character mask 11 which is of substantially opaque material except for horizontal translucent segments 13-15 and vertical translucent segments 16-19 which are to be selectively illuminated by lamps such as those indicated in phantom lines at 21.

It will be obvious from a close inspection of FIG. 1 that as current is delivered to one of the lamps 21, the lamp will illuminate one of the segments 13-19, depending upon within which cell in the light shield the lamp has been placed.

Since the light shield fits tightly against the mask 11 no lamp 21 can illuminate more than one segment. Thus, as selected lamps are lighted, corresponding segments on the mask will be illuminated and numerals or characters of a desired type will be displayed to the viewer.

As shown in FIG. 1, a second light shield 23 has been illustrated in phantom to show how adjacent light shields may be mounted in abutting fashion so that enlarged symbols may be displayed or adjoining symbols may be placed close to one another to aid in miniaturization of a multiple readout unit. Additional translucent segments, such as those shown at 24, 25, and 26 may be positioned between adjacent shields so that lamps placed in cells formed between the shields can illuminate them.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the back of a second light shield has been shown with a character mask upon which the vertical bar segments have been tilted toward the upper right, as seen by a viewer at the front of the readout. Since the elements present in this view are identical to those of FIG. 1, they have been identified with identical reference numerals followed by the character a such that mask 11 now becomes mask 1 1a, etc. No further explanation of the previously described parts is therefore deemed necessary. It will be noted by careful review, however, that the sides of each cell which extend in the direction of the angle of tilt are longer than the sides to which they are perpendicular. Since the cells are rectangular rather than square when the character is tilted, the rectangular configuration allows the horizontal segments to remain in a true horizontal relationship. The rectangular cells also prevent the ends of the vertical segments from becoming separated from the ends of the horizontal segments, as would be the case if the cells were maintained as square.

As shown in FIG. 3, each light shield, whether the cells are rectangular or square, comprises four individual sections 100, 200, 300, and 400. Sections 100 and 400 comprise first legs 110 and 410 and second legs l20 and 420 separated by 90 bends 115 and 415, respectively, which, in the figure, extend toward the viewer. Sections 200 and 300 comprise first legs 210 and 310 and second legs 220 and 320 separated by 90 bends 215 and 315, respectively, which, in the figure, extend away from the viewer.

Each of the sections is formed with five slots 101-105, 201-205, etc., which are positioned therein so as to form four-sided cells of square or rectangular configuration when the slots are mated as shown by the sight lines. Thus, slot 101 mates with slot 201, slot 102 mates with slot 301, slot 103 mates with slot 403, etc. When the four sections are put together, the fingers formed between the slots interlock to form cells in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Thus, each cell is formed by four of the fingers one from each of the sections 100-400. Section 100 has the five slots formed in a first edge at spaced positions along the length of the section. Section 400 has the five slots formed in a second edge at spaced positions along the length of the section. Sections 200 and 300 have slots in the first and second opposite edges to mate with the slots in the slots in the sections 100 and 400. The slotsin the first and second edges of the section 200 are respectively complementary to the slots in the first and second edges of the section 300.

It will become evident, therefore, that the positioning of the slots and the bend on each section will determine the angle, if any, to which the readout vertical bar segments will be tilted. If the slots and bend in each section are equidistant, i.e., the fingers are equal in size, the shield cells will be square, but if the dimensions are greater on one leg than the other, the cells will be rectangular and the segments will be tilted in the same direction in which the leg with the larger fingers extends.

Since each light shield may be manufactured from thin sheet material, it is easy to put adjacent readouts very close together and form a multiple readout unit which is very compact. As long as each readout character is displayed at the same angle of tilt as the adjacent readouts, changing the angle of tilt of the vertical segments will not effect the spacing between adjacent symbols.

Thus, the present invention allows the production of a very compact and inexpensive seven bar segment readout having all of the advantages of the bulkier and more costly units of the prior art, while eliminating those disadvantages.

Upon gaining a thorough understanding of the present invention as disclosed herein, those skilled in the art will realize that a variety of embodiments of the described device can be produced without exceeding the scope of the invention which is limited only by the recitations of the following claims.

Wherefore what is claimed is:

1. A light shield comprising:

a plurality of strip members each comprising a first leg having first and second opposite edges,

a second leg having first and second opposite edges and disposed relative to said first leg to form a particular angle with said first leg, and

slots in each of said first and second legs at particular positions along the legs to define fingers in the first and second legs, the slots in first ones of the strip members extending from the first edges and the slots in second ones of the strip members extending from the second edges and the slots in the other ones of the strip members extending from the first and second edges, the slots extending from the first edges on the first and second legs of particular ones of the strip members in the plurality mating with the slots extending from the second edges on the first and second legs of other ones of the strip members in the plurality to define a plurality of isolated cells as a result of such interlocking,

a plurality of lamps each disposed in an individual one of the cells and each having properties of being illuminated, and

a plurality of translucent segments each disposed in an individual one of the cells and communicating with the other translucent segments and disposed between the associated lamp and the strip members to pass light from the associated lamp upon the illumination of the associated lamp and thereby define individual characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant.

2. The light shield of claim 1 including the fingers being formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members between said slots at spaced positions along said legs, said fingers defining the walls of said lamp-receiving cells when said plurality of strip members are interlocked.

3. The light shield of claim 2 wherein said fingers formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members are of substantially equal length size.

4. The light shield of claim 2 wherein said fingers formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members are longer on one of said legs than the fingers on the other of said legs on each of said plurality of strip members and wherein the fingers of greater length on particular ones of the strip members interlock with'the fingers of shorter length on other ones of the strip members.

5. A readout light shield comprising a plurality of strip members having first and second opposite edges, each having a first leg,

a second leg extending from the first leg at a particular angle relative to the first leg, and

a pair of strip members of said plurality of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, each slot of said plurality extending in at least one of the members from the first edge of the strip to a point intermediate between the first and second edges and in at least a second one of the members from the second edge of the strip member to a point substantially intermediate between the first and second edges, and

a second pair of strip members of said plurality of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at second positions in said first and second legs, particular slots of of said plurality extending from the first edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members and other slots of said plurality extending from the second edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members,

the slots of said first pair of strip members mating with the slots of said second pair of strip members to provide an interlocking relationship between the fingers of said first pair of strip members and the fingers of said second pair of strip members and to define a plurality of cells as a result of said interlocking relationship,

plurality of lamps each disposed in an individual one of the cells and each having properties of being illuminated, and

a plurality of translucent segments each disposed in an individual one of the cells between the fingers and the associated lamp in the cell and each communicating with individual ones of the other segments to provide with the other segments individual indications of characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant.

6. The light shield of claim 5 wherein the slots formed in the first and second edges of one of the strip members in the second pair are complementary to the slots formed in the first and second edges of the other one of the strip members in the second pair.

7. The light shield of claim 6 wherein the total number of slots in said first and second legs of each of said first pair of said strip members is equal to the total number of said plurality of slots in said first and second legs of said second pair of strip members and wherein the total number of slots in the first edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in one of the strip members in the first pair and the total number of slots in the second edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in the other one of the strip members in the first pair.

8. The light shield of claim 7 wherein at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edge in the first one of said first pair of strip members is mated with at least one slot in the second edges of said second pair of strip members, and

at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the second edges of the other one of said strip members of said first pair is mated with at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edges of said strip members of said second pair.

9. The light shield of claim 8 wherein the first pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and the second pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and in intersecting relationship with the first pair of strip members.

10. The light shield of claim 9 wherein the first and second pairs of strip members intersect in a particular relationship to define seven cells and wherein the segments are disposed to define four vertical segments and three horizontal segments with two of the four vertical segments defining one vertical line and with the other two vertical segments defining a second vertical line spaced from the first vertical line and with the three horizontal segments being spaced from one another and wherein each slot in each of said plurality of strip members is positioned in one of said first and second legs in accordance with a predetermined angle of tilt of the four vertical segments.

ll. The light shield of claim 10 wherein the slots on the second legs have spacings between slots substantially equal to the spacings between the slots on the first legs.

12. The light shield of claim 10 wherein the spacings between the slots on the first legs are substantially equal and the spacings between the slots on the second legs are substantially equal spacings but are different from from the spacings of the slots in the first legs.

13. In a readout light shield for use with a plurality of lamps and a plurality of translucent segments each associated with a different one of the lamps and communicating with individual ones of the other segments to provide with the other segments individual indications of characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant,

a first pair of strip members having first and second opposite edges, each having a first leg,

a second leg extending from the first leg at a particular angle relative to the first leg, and

a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, each slot of said plurality extending in at least one of the members from the first edge of the strip to a point intermediate between the first and second edges and in at least a'second one of the members from the second edge of the strip member to a point substantially intermediate between the first and second edges, and

a second pair of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, particular slots of said plurality extending from the first edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members and other slots of said plurality extending from the second edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members,

the slots of said first pair of strip members mating with the slots of said second pair of strip members to provide an interlocking relationship between the fingers of said first pair of strip members and the fingers of said second pair of strip members and to define a plurality of cells for retaining the different translucent segments as a result of said interlocking relationship.

14. The light shield of claim 13 wherein the slots formed in the first and second edges of one of the strip members in the second pair are complementary to the slots formed in the first and second edges of the other one of the strip members in the second pair.

15. The light shield of claim 14 wherein the total number of slots in said first and second legs of each of said first pair of strip members is equal to the total number of said plurality of slots in said first and second legs of said second pair of strip members and wherein the total number of slots in the first edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in one of the strip members in the first pair and the total number of slots in the second edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in the other one of the strip members in the first pair.

16. The light shield of claim l5 wherein at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edge of the first one of said first pair of strip members is mated with at least one slot in the second edges of said second pair of strip members, and

at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the second edges of the other one of said strip members of said first pair is mated with at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edges of said strip members of said first second pair.

17. The light shield of claim 16 wherein the first pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and the second pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and in intersecting relationship with the first pair of strip members.

18. The light shield of claim 17 wherein the first and second pairs of strip members intersect in a particular relationship to define seven cells and wherein the segments are disposed to define four vertical segments and three horizontal segments with two of the four vertical segments defining one vertical line and with the other two vertical segments defining a second vertical line spaced from the first vertical line and with the three horizontal segments being spaced from one another and wherein each slot in each of said plurality of strip members is positioned in one of said first and second legs in accordance with a predetermined angle of tilt of the four vertical segments.

19. The light shield of claim 18 wherein the slots on the second legs have spacings between slots substantially equal to the spacings between the slots on the first legs.

20. The light shield of claim 18 wherein the spacings between the slots on the first legs are substantially equal and the spacings between the slots on the second legs are substantially equal spacings but are different from the spacings of the slots in the first legs. 

1. A light shield comprising: a plurality of strip members each comprising a first leg having first and second opposite edges, a second leg having first and second opposite edges and disposed relative to said first leg to form a particular angle with said first leg, and slots in each of said first and second legs at particular positions along the legs to define fingers in the first and second legs, the slots in first ones of the strip members extending from the first edges and the slots in second ones of the strip members extending from the second edges and the slots in the other ones of the strip members extending from the first and second edges, the slots extending from the first edges on the first and second legs of particular ones of the strip members in the plurality mating with the slots extending from the second edges on the first and second legs of other ones of the strip members in the plurality to define a plurality of isolated cells as a result of such interlocking, a plurality of lamps each disposed in an individual one of the cells and each having properties of being illuminated, and a plurality of translucent segments each disposed in an individual one of the cells and communicating with the other translucent segments and disposed between the associated lamp and the strip members to pass light from the associated lamp upon the illumination of the associated lamp and thereby define individual characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant.
 2. The light shield of claim 1 including the fingers being formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members between said slots at spaced positions along said legs, said fingers defining the walls of said lamp-receiving cells when said plurality of strip members are interlocked.
 3. The light shield of claim 2 wherein said fingers formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members are of substantially equal length size.
 4. The light shield of claim 2 wherein said fingers formed in said first and second legs of said plurality of strip members are longer on one of said legs than the fingers on the other of said legs on each of said plurality of strip members and wherein the fingers of greater length on particular ones of the strip members interlock with the fingers of shorter length on other ones of the strip members.
 5. A readout light shield comprising a plurality of strip members having first and second opposite edges, each having a first leg, a second leg extending from the first leg at a particular angle Relative to the first leg, and a pair of strip members of said plurality of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, each slot of said plurality extending in at least one of the members from the first edge of the strip to a point intermediate between the first and second edges and in at least a second one of the members from the second edge of the strip member to a point substantially intermediate between the first and second edges, and a second pair of strip members of said plurality of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at second positions in said first and second legs, particular slots of of said plurality extending from the first edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members and other slots of said plurality extending from the second edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members, the slots of said first pair of strip members mating with the slots of said second pair of strip members to provide an interlocking relationship between the fingers of said first pair of strip members and the fingers of said second pair of strip members and to define a plurality of cells as a result of said interlocking relationship, a plurality of lamps each disposed in an individual one of the cells and each having properties of being illuminated, and a plurality of translucent segments each disposed in an individual one of the cells between the fingers and the associated lamp in the cell and each communicating with individual ones of the other segments to provide with the other segments individual indications of characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant.
 6. The light shield of claim 5 wherein the slots formed in the first and second edges of one of the strip members in the second pair are complementary to the slots formed in the first and second edges of the other one of the strip members in the second pair.
 7. The light shield of claim 6 wherein the total number of slots in said first and second legs of each of said first pair of said strip members is equal to the total number of said plurality of slots in said first and second legs of said second pair of strip members and wherein the total number of slots in the first edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in one of the strip members in the first pair and the total number of slots in the second edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in the other one of the strip members in the first pair.
 8. The light shield of claim 7 wherein at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edge in the first one of said first pair of strip members is mated with at least one slot in the second edges of said second pair of strip members, and at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the second edges of the other one of said strip members of said first pair is mated with at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edges of said strip members of said second pair.
 9. The light shield of claim 8 wherein the first pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and the second pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and in intersecting relationship with the first pair of strip members.
 10. The light shield of claim 9 wherein the first and second pairs of strip members intersect in a particular relationship to define seven cells and wherein the segments are disposed to define four vertical segments and three horizontal segments with two of the four vertical segments defining one vertical line and with the other two vertical segments defining a second vertical line spaced from the first vertical line and with the three horizontal segments being spaced from one another and wherEin each slot in each of said plurality of strip members is positioned in one of said first and second legs in accordance with a predetermined angle of tilt of the four vertical segments.
 11. The light shield of claim 10 wherein the slots on the second legs have spacings between slots substantially equal to the spacings between the slots on the first legs.
 12. The light shield of claim 10 wherein the spacings between the slots on the first legs are substantially equal and the spacings between the slots on the second legs are substantially equal spacings but are different from from the spacings of the slots in the first legs.
 13. In a readout light shield for use with a plurality of lamps and a plurality of translucent segments each associated with a different one of the lamps and communicating with individual ones of the other segments to provide with the other segments individual indications of characters dependent upon the particular lamps illuminated at any instant, a first pair of strip members having first and second opposite edges, each having a first leg, a second leg extending from the first leg at a particular angle relative to the first leg, and a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, each slot of said plurality extending in at least one of the members from the first edge of the strip to a point intermediate between the first and second edges and in at least a second one of the members from the second edge of the strip member to a point substantially intermediate between the first and second edges, and a second pair of strip members having a plurality of slots formed therein at spaced positions in said first and second legs, particular slots of said plurality extending from the first edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members and other slots of said plurality extending from the second edges of the strip members to a position intermediate between the first and second edges of the strip members, the slots of said first pair of strip members mating with the slots of said second pair of strip members to provide an interlocking relationship between the fingers of said first pair of strip members and the fingers of said second pair of strip members and to define a plurality of cells for retaining the different translucent segments as a result of said interlocking relationship.
 14. The light shield of claim 13 wherein the slots formed in the first and second edges of one of the strip members in the second pair are complementary to the slots formed in the first and second edges of the other one of the strip members in the second pair.
 15. The light shield of claim 14 wherein the total number of slots in said first and second legs of each of said first pair of strip members is equal to the total number of said plurality of slots in said first and second legs of said second pair of strip members and wherein the total number of slots in the first edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in one of the strip members in the first pair and the total number of slots in the second edges of the second pair of strip members is equal to the number of slots in the other one of the strip members in the first pair.
 16. The light shield of claim 15 wherein at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edge of the first one of said first pair of strip members is mated with at least one slot in the second edges of said second pair of strip members, and at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the second edges of the other one of said strip members of said first pair is mated with at least one slot of said plurality of slots in the first edges of said strip members of said first second pair.
 17. The light shield of claim 16 wherein the first pair of strip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and the second pair of stRip members are disposed in a spaced and substantially parallel relationship and in intersecting relationship with the first pair of strip members.
 18. The light shield of claim 17 wherein the first and second pairs of strip members intersect in a particular relationship to define seven cells and wherein the segments are disposed to define four vertical segments and three horizontal segments with two of the four vertical segments defining one vertical line and with the other two vertical segments defining a second vertical line spaced from the first vertical line and with the three horizontal segments being spaced from one another and wherein each slot in each of said plurality of strip members is positioned in one of said first and second legs in accordance with a predetermined angle of tilt of the four vertical segments.
 19. The light shield of claim 18 wherein the slots on the second legs have spacings between slots substantially equal to the spacings between the slots on the first legs.
 20. The light shield of claim 18 wherein the spacings between the slots on the first legs are substantially equal and the spacings between the slots on the second legs are substantially equal spacings but are different from the spacings of the slots in the first legs. 